Heat vs. Nets Preview: Where's the D?
Follow WQAM on Twitter | Facebook
The short-handed Miami Heat (11-13) will be limping into Brooklyn tonight when they take on the Nets (10-12) at Barclays Center.
Down Chris Bosh (calf), Josh McRoberts (knee) and potentially both Dwyane Wade (illness) and Justin Hamilton (quad), they'll look to take a step towards .500 against an aging, subpar Nets team without star center Brook Lopez. Take a glance at how the two Eastern Conference foes match up.
TV: 7:30 p.m., Sun Sports
Conference Standing: Heat (7th), Nets (8th)
Offensive Efficiency: Heat (14th), Nets (23rd)
Defensive Efficiency: Heat (25th), Nets (12th)
True Shooting Percentage: Heat (8th), Nets (22nd)
Rebound Rate: Heat (30th), Nets (21st)
Point Differential: Heat (-4.1), Nets (-1.9)
Last 10: Heat (3-7), Nets (5-5)
Mascots: Bernie vs. NA (Brooklyn canned their mascot last summer)
Dancers: Heat Dancers vs. Brooklynettes
Defensive Woes:
Miami's defense, currently ranked 25th in efficiency, has been nonexistent this season. This is uncharacteristic of an Erik Spoelstra-led Heat team. Below are where his teams have ranked since taking over as head coach.
2008-09: 12th
2009-10: 3rd
2010-11: 5th
2011-12: 4th
2012-13: 7th
2013-14: 11th
X-Factor: Luol Deng
If Miami is down their top two scorers in Wade and Bosh, the burden falls on Deng to consistently provide sparks on both ends of the court. That could spell trouble considering he's not exactly a juggernaut with the ball in his hands. The Heat also would need an efficient evening from Mario Chalmers as a facilitator.
Frightening Fact
Miami's last eight losses have come by an average of 18 points.
Did You Know? Nets center Mason Plumlee has a freakishly athletic bloodline.
He's one of three brothers to play basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. Older brother Miles is now in the NBA with the Suns while Marshall is a junior at Duke. All three are 6-foot-11 or taller and younger sister Madeleine plays volleyball at Notre Dame. Both parents played college basketball, as did their grandfather.
Never challenge the Plumlee family in athletic competition. Ever.
Follow Josh on Twitter @JoshBaumgard
---
Note: All statistics in this post were compiled from ESPN or NBA.com
